The Puhlman Christmas Letter

I loved how this picture of our tree turned out. The walls look so cool with all the colors from the lights.

I can't believe how fast 2010 went. But here we are about ready to start a new year.

DON: He is still enjoying his job. The commute is what is making him grumpy. Makes Lisa grumpy too. Lyme's disease hit him hard a couple of months ago. But thankfully things seem to be ok in that department. He is still teaching the fourth Sunday in Elders Quorum and just received a new calling. He will be teaching the Marriage and Family Life course with Lisa. Both are very excited but are wondering if they made a mistake in calling us as the teachers. :) Don has really been getting into hunting these past 2 years. But for some reason he can't seem to get anything. Seems like he see's deer all over the place EXCEPT when he is out hunting. It has turned into quite the joke now.

LISA: Lisa keeps quite busy with the kids. There is never a dull moment in this house. She loves to blog and has made that her journal. She enjoys reading but can't quite find enough time to get much of that done. Singing is at the top of her list....she just wishes she sounded better. That doesn't seem to stop her though. Losing her father in November has been difficult. She is thankful for her family and the joy they bring her. The gospel is such a blessing in her life and there is nothing more important as her family and her belief. Both bring her such happiness.

CALEB: He turned 12 recently and is now in Young Mens and passing the Sacrament. He just went to the temple last weekend and LOVED it. He went on a campout and five mile hike. He froze and ate nasty food. We will be better prepared for his next campout happening next week. This time he will campout for 2 nights and he will stay warm and have tasty food. Caleb is getting A's and B's and we are so grateful for his desire to choose the right.

ZACHARY: He is the tallest 4th grader in the school. He passes up most of the 5th graders too. He was so excited to receive a bow for his birthday. He spends quite a bit of time outside target shooting. He loves to hunt with his dad and has high hopes of getting a deer. He did a fabulous job with Caleb babysitting for the first time while mom and dad had a meeting at church. They read the scriptures without being asked and the younger three kids were asleep by 7:00 that night. We are grateful that Zachary is part of our family.

RACHEL: Rachel is enjoying the 2nd grade. She is doing very well and getting all A's. She is in the top reading group and has an amazing ability to write. She has beautiful penmanship. She loves anything girly and you can often find her getting into mom's makeup and dressing in her fanciest clothes. This girl gets up early. She reminds me of Grandpa McHargue. She wonders why she has to go to bed so early. NO MATTER what time she goes to bed she is up at 5 or 6 most mornings. She is a joy to have in our home.

ETHAN: His first year of school has been fun for him. His teachers compliment him on his work. He has started to read a little and has learned cursive. He is pretty easy to get along with as long as things are going his way. He cracks us up with the funny things he says. He is full of love and you can find him giving hugs and kisses. He loves to be read to. He brings a lot of laughter to our home.

MAYAH: This is one witty girl. She is 4 going on 13. You can find her getting into the makeup too. I have no idea where she comes up with such mature words. She gets so many compliments on her red curly hair. She is stubborn and she can hold her own quite often. She loves to watch t.v. I think she gets bored being the only one at home. I know she will love next year when she can ride the bus like everyone else. She fits perfectly into our strong willed family. Her raspy voice sets her apart from all the other kids. She is a joy.

We want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We hope you will all remember the true meaning of Christmas. It isn't about the gifts....it is about the love and the charity and the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. Without HIM there would be NO Christmas. Let us never forget that.

The lunar eclipse

Don loves anything to do with astronomy...so when he knew there was going to be an eclipse he made sure he was awake AND that he woke up each child (except Mayah....she isn't easy to get back to sleep) to show them. He even tried to wake me but I guess I was too tired. I wish I would have seen it. Don took quite a few pictures and this is one of them.............AMAZING....and there was a red star that he tried taking a picture of. When he went back to view the pictures that star looked as if it had burst. It was the coolest thing EVER. More pictures to come as soon as we get them on this computer.

A fun day that ended with a fun night

School was called off today. We got quite a bit of snow and with that came slick roads. It was good to have the kids home. They were really good too. They played outside for a good portion of the day.....had lots of hot chocolate and too many pumpkin chocolate chip cookies.

Here is our tree. I let the kids decorate it all by themselves. I think they did a mighty fine job. Kids enjoying the snow.

Rachel is trying to clean out that sled. It was filled with ice.

More sledding.........

OK so it took Don almost 3 hours to get home tonight. He doesn't think people around here know how to drive in the snow or even rain. FUNNY. He walked in with a Walmart bag. He was up to something. I had gotten the younger three kids ready for bed and even had Ethan asleep. Rachel was close. Mayah was out of her bed quite a few times doing her typical nightly 'stuff'. And the boys were watching Goosebumps. Don starts putting some ingredients into a pot. Then he started asking where the kids were. I told Mayah to get into bed but he ruled against that and said she could stay up. He high fived her. That gave her the giggles. Then he told Mayah to go upstairs and wake up the other two so they could come down. Ethan was out....but after he learned that he could get up for some hot chocolate he was up quick. Rachel came quickly as well. Hoping there is no school tomorrow. But even if there is we all had a super fun night of dad cooking us up some hot chocolate. The recipe came from Glenn Beck...Don's favorite talk radio host.

***warning.....this may cause clogged arteries....eat at your own risk. All you do is use cream (Glenn uses straight cream but Don bought half and half. Then heat that up and just stick some hershey's milk choc. bars in. There isn't really a set recipe. Just do it to taste. It is GOOD. Then Don topped it off with that spray whip cream. YUM. Seriously it is delicious.

Toasting their cups.



Just some fun funny faces.

AND YES you see it right. That is cream all over their noses...we have dad to thank for that.

YUM enjoying their drink. The kids couldn't drink it fast enough. They all thought it was the best. Maybe it was really really good but I am thinking since Dad let them all stay up a bit later AND drink hot chocolate just made it a super fun night in their eyes. I was OK with it too.

All so fast........

We just experienced three deaths in our family in the last 36 days....my father passed on Nov. 1st. My uncle (dad's brother) on Thanksgiving day...Nov. 25th and yesterday my 99 year old grandma passed away...(their mom). And I am just grateful for what they have passed down to us. My grandma was in good health almost her entire life...and it was a good, long life. She was lucid almost up until she died. That was a great blessing. My father passed away unexpectedly. My uncle was sick so we knew it was coming. My grandma was old and we knew it wouldn't be long as well...although us grandchildren were hoping she would make it to 100. My great-grandma also lived until she was 99 so we were hoping for a new record of 100. But after my dad and uncle (her boys) died she went down hill pretty fast.

Here is my mom and dad. What lovely people they are.

I couldn't find a picture of my uncle Joe on my computer so this will have to do. My dad is to the far left. My other uncle Jack (the only one surviving now in that family) and my amazing grandma Emily.

I have two things on this earth that are truly the most important things in my life...family and the gospel of Jesus Christ. They truly are the things that matter most. It is hard getting into the spirit of Christmas but as I sit here this morning and really think about it....Christmas is all about the birth of our Savior. And for that I am excited. And for that there is reason to celebrate. YES....I have lost three important people in my family recently but I haven't lost them for good....just for a season. And in the eyes of our Savior it won't take long before we see them again. Grateful for today. Grateful for my life. Grateful for the things that these family members passed down to us. Grateful that I know that I can see them again. I have no doubt.

UVA trip

Friday we took a trip to UVA. Mom wanted to see the campus where my two nieces attend. It was a very fun trip. My sister, mom and even Mayah came along. She was really good the whole time.

Here is mom with Leila....inside her little apartment. It was so cute.

My other niece (Nadia) with mom. Her little room was so cute too and she was very creative in the way she used her space. I tell you...I have some smart nieces. Too bad they couldn't share with me. :)

Here is mom and Mayah in front of the Thomas Jefferson (he founded UVA) statue.

Had to get a picture of mom in front of this tree. We couldn't believe it hadn't lost its leaves yet. Too bad mom missed the fall.

Look how cool this church looks? There is a bell up top. Mom, Mayah and myslef.



The day before we came there were a bunch of ice sculptures and we were hoping they were still there but they weren't. Here is my sister and mom on the lawn. They call this area the lawn.

We had the most delicious lunch ever. We ate at a Thai Restauant. It was the best. I am so grateful for such a fun trip. It was much needed. All I am thinking about now is how little time we have left with my mom here. It makes me sad to not see her daily. I love her and am so thankful for her. She is the best.

Love having mom here

I am so glad my mom decided to come back East with us. It is getting closer for her to be going home and yet I wish she would stay longer. She is a huge help. We love having her. Here is my niece and my mom. Leila (my niece) bought her a bouquet of flowers.

I took mom to the temple this week. It was lovely. There is NO place as special as the temple. It really lifted our spirits. I hope to go one more time before she leaves. My mom is doing quite well. Ofcourse it will take time....probably lots of time. I still find myself crying at moments but I know my pain compared to my mom's is minimal. She has lost her best friend, husband and companion. They worked together and spent the evenings together and it worked well. They got along great. Her family is what she held onto as her greatest friends so she really doesn't have an outside circle of friends...but that is what she prefered. She was happy being with dad and with her kids and grandkids. She is strong. I know that God will watch over and protect her and help her to heal. I just hope this time goes quick. I don't like seeing her sad. But I know it is part of the process.